Lynching in Jharkhand: Fast Track Court Sentences 12 Men to 4-Year Jail
A fast-track court in Jharkhand’s Saraikela has sentenced 12 people to four years’ rigorous imprisonment for attacking a police team who were trying to save four men who were allegedly lynched by the convicts in the district in May 2017.
Ranchi, July 17: A fast-track court in Jharkhand’s Saraikela has sentenced 12 people to four years’ imprisonment for attacking a police team who were trying to save four men who were allegedly lynched by the convicts in the district in May 2017. According to a report published in Hindustan Times, Additional district and sessions judge Ashish Saxena sentenced Krishna Sahu, Bhagirath Jyotishi, Kunda Jyotishi, Falguni Jyotishi, Tarun Jyotishi, Arun Jyotishi, Krishna Jyotishi, Kanhu Jyotishi, Chaturbhuj Sahu, Sitaram Sahu, Bara Kanhu Jyotishi and Laltu Lohar on Monday.
A fine of Rs 2,000 was also slapped on the convicts for obstructing and assaulting government officials on duty with deadly weapons and disrupting peace in the area. Three accused were also acquitted for the lack of evidence. The case was handed over to fast-track court by the state government for speedy trial.
The convicts were part of a mob that lynched four men in Sariakela-Kharsawan district over the suspicion of child lifter on May 18, 2017. The mob also attacked the of Murtaza Ansari where the four victims had taken refuge. The mob also torched a police vehicle. According to the report, In the police probe, it was found that the victims were suspected to be involved in illegal cattle smuggling and on seeing villagers coming towards them, they panicked.
The conviction came just a day before the Supreme Court on Tuesday asked the Centre to frame a new anti-lynching law. The three-judge Supreme Court bench headed by Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra said, "No citizen can take law into their own hands nor become the law unto themselves. It is the duty of State to ensure maintenance of law and order so as to protect secular ethos and prevent mobocracy."
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jul 17, 2018 08:56 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).